FURIOUS locals say their “beautiful” shopping centre will be ruined by a 16-storey “massive splodge” tower block being built on their high street.

Bustling Penge High Street in South London will be in the “shadow of darkness” according to concerned residents.

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They’re fighting back against the developers and council who have given permission for the build to go ahead.

Locals Mike Payne, 63, and Lee Knight, 70, claim thousands of people will be negatively affected by the tower.

Mr Payne said they’d be forced to live in “perpetual darkness”, while Ms Knight said homeowners would be left with “worthless flats”.

Ms Knight said: “Everybody wants housing but we don’t want this.

“It’s a complete eyesore. It’s completely inappropriate.”

Mr Payne added: “It’s just a massive splodge of a building.”

Lee explained: “Everybody wants housing but we don’t want this.

“It’s a complete eyesore. It’s completely inappropriate.”

Mike added: “It’s just a massive splodge of a building.”

But it’s not just residents who have voiced their concerns, with the fire brigade issuing a nine point objection deeming the plan “ethically unjustifiable”.

Lee, who took it upon herself to investigate the fire safety plan for the building found it to have “breached planning guidelines”.

She said the report focused on the “central red flags” such as not including enough evacuation stairs or lifts.

Both Lee and Mike warned it’s a ticking “death trap”.

Lee said: “What happens if we’ve got Grenfell number two?”

“What’s going to happen? They’re all sloping shoulders making decisions that could cost people their lives and at least their health.”

Lee urged: “We want housing, we want the area improved, but we want safe housing, housing that is in character with the scale of the high street and community.”

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Despite Lee personally handing over a petition with 2,500 signatures opposing the plans to the head of the council, she has been left feeling “ignored”.

She added: “There’s no point in having a planning process, they need to stop being hypocrites as they are currently just doing what they like.

“It’s the destruction of our London, our local community, it will be ruined for good.

“We’ve tried to fight back, we have stood on iron legs and despite the socially economic area being a bit challenged people have put forward really strong suggestions to fight the technicality of planning.

“But the council has the upper hand as we have to fight on the technicality, something we know nothing about, it just feels so unfair.

“We feel like little people that just keep getting squashed, making us feel so small.”

 According to Mike, Bromley council and the developer have “ticked boxes” by showing the “smallest” amount of interest in the voices opposing the construction.

Whilst they have run yoga classes and presented pictures of the proposals showing “smiley residents” walking through the advertisement, it seems those currently living there have been left “feeling at a loss”.

LOCAL BUSINESSES’ REACT

The owner of a nearby butchers, the Murray Brothers, believed the council could have “pleased everyone” by making the tower slightly lower but understands it is probably to “make more money”.

Dean Murray, 50, spoke of how Penge has always had a name for itself being stuck between Beckenham and Crystal Palace and is currently home to a “dilapidated high street”.

He said: “The main problem for us is the construction.

“We just don’t know if it will impact us but it leaves a potential nightmare on our backdoor.

“We don’t know how we are going to get deliveries in for us so of course it could be problematic.

“But I am stuck between two sides, because there’s the chance we could have a higher footfall and in the long term it could be better for us.

“Many of our customers don’t seem to think so though.

“Of course infrastructure – schools, doctors – that’s going to be an issue.

“Some have said they will move because of it but to be honest after the three to four years of disruption, we will have to see.”

Meanwhile, Rob Carney, 61, who has owned the key shop situated in the existing building that is part of the plans for forty years is “unsure”.

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Rob said: “To be honest the current building is well past its sell by date but obviously there will be no parking and there’s a lot of debate with it being such a high tower block.

“My situation is quite different – I am the only one here on a lease and it ends in five years anyway.

“This offers a way for retirement but if I was twenty years younger that would be a completely different story for me.

“I won’t be going for nothing but that’s a conversation to be had with the council.

“Of course it will affect other businesses like the butchers because how are they expected to get deliveries in.”

Councillor Alexa Michael, Chairman of the Development Control Committee, said: “After careful consideration, permission was granted for this development which will make a substantial contribution to meeting the need for more housing across the borough.

“Whilst we understand the concerns, the proposal met the various required planning policies, including affordable housing, and will help to enhance and regenerate Penge’s retail landscape.

“By granting permission, we were able to impose conditions, crucially to reinforce the welcome recommended reduction in height from the original proposal.”

The statement added: “The application had been amended following public consultation in early 2023, with the number of storeys being reduced to reflect the feedback received.

“Due to the high number of residential units proposed, the application must now be agreed by the Mayor of London.”

Hadley Property Group Holdings Limited has also been approached for comment.

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